Wendy WilliamsCAMPAIGNERS fighting the possible expansion of a quarry in a natural park have called for it to be closed down.
Environmentalists want the La Montosa Quarry, in the Sierras de Tejeda-Almijara Natural Park, to be returned to its natural state to prevent further damage to the environment.
The Ecologistas en Accion Group (GENA) have submitted an official complaint about the expansion to the environment department in Granada.
“The quarry is being continually developed without considering the impact on the environment,” GENA president Rafael Yus said.
“Should the regional administration not provide satisfactory solutions we reserve the right to go to the Environmental Prosecutor,” he added.
The contract to manage the site was issued before the area was classified as a natural park.
Aerial photographs suggest the site is nearly four times bigger than it was 10 years ago, expanding from 29,300 square metres in 2000 to 132,700 square metres in 2010.
The quarry has been blamed for the destruction of large areas of woodland, which is vital for preventing soil erosion and providing habitats for native wildlife.
Campaigners also allege that rivers are full of debris from the quarry while mining has also led to social problems in the region.
“It’s a beautiful area and this mining is wreaking havoc,” said local resident Charles Jefferson.
“Unless someone in office puts their foot down it may be too late to save it from being lost forever,” he warned.
I live very near a quarry in the Sierra de Tejeda-Almijara. Is this the one near Caniilas de Albaida, just north of Competa?
I had an American mining engineer staying recently , as he drove around Andalusia he could not believe the destruction of mountains here rather than the easier way of digging out stone and aggregate from the ground therefore creating a eventual amenity such as lakes, water deposits, land to build something on or with some ease return to what it was.
It is beyond comprehension sometimes the lack of joined up Government here the dept responsible for mining surely never speaks with the tourism sector or those responsible for water,roads etc.
The Casarabonela Quarry is a example ,pristine untouched mountains in the Sierra de Las Nieves reserve of the biosphere. No access worth talking about,No requirement for the material.
The junta are trying to allow a defunct 20 year old illegal quarry the right to reopen,in direct contradiction of what the people of the village want. The recent elections have thrown a lifeline to the village as the PSOE who did nothing to oppose it have been removed from office in favor of an independent group AGIC and the PP coalition who will now try to unravel the legal minefield to stop it.